Problem with DSS staying

Will try not to drip feed. DP has a DS (6) and I have a DD (3). Due to space DSS has to sleep in my DDs room when he is here.

Last weekend, DD and DSS were upstairs playing. They were quiet so I asked DP to check on them as I was cooking. He went up and says they both had trousers and underwear off and DSS was "looking" at DD with a torch. He told them to stop, shouldn't be doing it and brought them both downstairs. He told me and I asked him what they had said, what he had said etc. He said it was just normal inquisitiveness and not to worry. I got upset and said its not normal, and if he thinks it is for his DS, it certainly isn't for my DD.

I think its relevant that DSS has 5 older half siblings ranging from 24 to 9, and has maybe been exposed to things my DD hasn't has an only child with no cousins etc.

I asked DP to talk to DSS about it and explain he shouldn't do it etc, and I gently spoke to DD about it. She has said more to me about it than DSS said to DP, probably because she doesn't know anything "wrong" has happened whereas he knows he has done wrong. She said he hurt her bottom and put things in it

DP seems to think we should pretend it didn't happen, not make a big deal and watch them more, but I tried to explain how upset I was about it, the implications it could have for me and her if she tells her dad, pre-school etc. He thinks they should still be able to sleep in the same room but I don't. I know DSS is only young but he should know what he did was wrong. I just want to keep my DD safe as she had no idea they shouldn't be doing what they were, and I am reluctant to tell her all the things she shouldn't be doing due to her age. DSS is due here tomorrow, and I really don't know what to do. There genuinely isn't anywhere else for him to sleep, otherwise I would feel ok about that, and watching them and not allowing him in her room, but it just isn't possible. Does anyone please have any advice or ideas?

I'd say that while looking is not unusual and could be seen as ordinary curiosity - hurting and 'putting in' things is a cause for concern.

I think my inclination would be to continue talking, not just to DP but to your stepson's mother about what sorts of behaviour he may have been exposed to. For example might he have seen 'adult' films - e.g. porn - which have stimulated this kind of sexualised behaviour?

And I do not think it would be at all sensible for them to carry on sleeping in the same room. (Can your stepson sleep in the corner of your room on a fold-out bed. Is there space?)

I have a 5 year old DSD and she would definitely know that doing something like that was wrong, so no doubt your DSS does too.

I have a 6 month old DS and she is naturally curious about how "boys bits" are different, especially when I change his nappy! but she would never take his nappy off when alone with him and have a good look! I think at that age they know their bits are just for them and no-one else, and so also know that they shouldn't be looking at anyone else's.

your DH definitely needs to have a serious chat with him and not sweep it under the carpet and hope it goes away, as if your DSS is being exposed to things by his older siblings you never know what he might try and do next time if he isn't told its wrong, doesn't bare thinking about

I think DP is making it out to be not as bad in his head as he doesn't want to see DSS as the one in the wrong. (slight Disney issues, but that's another thread!) I also said to him that I think he is saying is normal etc because he knows that DSS won't be able to stay if he agrees with me that it isn't.

I asked him to talk to DSS's mum and she said it was natural and wouldn't talk to him as it would keep the thought in his mind

There just isn't space for him in our room. That was my first thought but I've looked into it, and we just couldn't fit a campbed/airbed anywhere. I guess the sofa is the only solution but that means us going to bed early, and to me isn't a long term solution.

I'm also so cross about it. With DSS as I am sure he knew it was wrong, and also probably irrationally with DP for bringing DSS here and putting my DD through it. I know that sounds ridiculous but it really has upset me and made me more angry than I thought it would. I'm really worried about DSS coming because I'm already thinking about how cross I am with him and don't really want to see him.

I wouldn't let the boy back in the house until lots of conversations had taken place between me , mother and dh. This is not normal behaviour. It is very worrying behavior and not to be swept under the carpet because he is family. If any other child had done it police would be called, and i am not sure they shouldn't now.

Putting things in your dd could severely damage her and i would never put my dd in a situation where it could happen again.

A small child can sleep on a duvet bed at the side of your bed. If there is room for you to get out of your bed there is room to make a duvet bed. (laying a duvet down instead of a mattress then another over the top to keep warm.) my dss prefers to sleep on one of there than the big double bed when he stays over!

I don't think it is ridiculous to be upset. For me the question might be about the extent to which, in one way or another, your stepson may have been abused. He may have seen inappropriate images/films. He may have heard explicitly sexual talk. He might have witnessed sexual acts. It would not be unusual for children who have been prematurely sexualised in some way, to want to do some of the things that have been done to them.

Faced with this level of denial by your partner and his ex, in your shoes I would feel that I needed to do something. Perhaps notify your stepson's class teacher as to what has happened - as they will then have a duty to inform social services.

His mother thinks it's normal for him to sexually abuse a 3 yr old? Because that's what it is. I think your dp needs to face up to the fact that his son may have been sexually abused. It sounds like he's in denial. If he and his ex refuse to take this seriously I would be contacting ss and I would under no circumstances leave them alone together again. I would also suggest a visit to your gp. If he was putting 'things in her' she may have internal damage. Sorry you're going through this, very upsetting.

I wouldn't be sitting dss down for a talk, I would call the NSPCC for some advice. iirc if any kind of abuse is or could be suspected the advice from professionals generally is not to speak to the child because as a parent it's easy to ask too many leading questions.

Behavior like this isn't normal, yes a level of curiosity is, even "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," but it steps over a line at the point when physical interaction becomes a part of it.

It is possible that he has just been prematurely exposed to sexualised images. A teenage brother with a lad's mag which hasn't been kept hidden or something, but it's also possible that there is more to it, and right now your priority is to your dd.

I would speak to nspcc and I would also speak to your dp and make it clear that your concern is for your dd but that his ds' behaviour is also concerning. If he refused to take that seriously I would have some reservations about a relationship with him tbh, because he should be able to put his child's welfare over and above his denial.

i totally understand your concern and you are right.but i dont think you are being fair on the ss. he is a child. who sounds like he has been exposed to some level of sexual in appropriateness.your husband also needs to thinks where he may have seen this.

I am really very upset and cross about it, and that is why I left it to DP to talk to DSS about it. But I see now that that is not sufficient.

The thing is that I know they shouldn't be in the same room and should be watched all the time, but DP doesn't agree. Also, he is his DS so if he and his ex don't want to do anything about it, it's not really down to me is it? I have a say with regards to my DD but can't push them to do anything else about it.

I guess he could sleep on a duvet on the floor but that doesn't seem fair on my DD as how do I then explain to her that he gets to and she doesn't as I'm sure she would love to sleep with us, without going into the details. I don't want her pushed out of her own room either....it's all so hard.

I said to DP that maybe he shouldn't stay until we can move somewhere so he has his own room (although I would still worry about him wandering I think) but that's not possible for a while yet.

I'm beginning to think we may end up splitting up over this which I really don't want as I don't think he thinks it is as big a problem as it is, but I can't put my DD at risk and he won't back down over his DS staying

it is not just up to his parents. it involves your daughter.and as an adult who has concers over sexual abuse you should contact ss, the school, dr or police.it may be overkill.it could be totally innocent.but if its not then you could be stopping something terrible.

I agree with wannabe too. You need advice on how to handle this. I also think it would be best to take your DD to your GP to get her checked over too. Your GP might well pass details onto another agency to look into this, so it would be best all round if DSS's parent actually addressed this instead of pretending its normal and doesn't require them to get advice themselves on how to speak to their son about this.

With regards to your DD, I'd recommend this book as I think it's something that will help your DD understand that her body is hers and only certain people can look at her private areas for certain reasons i.e. GP, nurse, you when helping her get washed in the bath etc. It's a very gentle introduction into the idea of keeping your body private. I bought this for my DD when she was 5 and it is very gentle.

I think there's a question about how best to ensure that your daughter isn't hurt again this way.

So if she said she still felt hurt or was having pain when going to the loo, a GP visit would be necessary. But if she wasn't still hurting and there was no evidence of infection, then taking her to the doctors when she didn't feel ill might seem very strange - and a bit scary. On the one hand your saying 'Your body is yours and some parts are private'. On the other your saying, 'Now let the doctor see between your legs.'

"tbh if a six year old is inserting items into another child, he may have been exposed to the worst kind of porn or worse."

Yeah, possibly.

But there is a big difference between putting a bit of lego between your bum cheeks and sticking something into your anus.

If I walked into a room and my 5yo and 3yo were shining a torch at each others bits I would not be remotely surprised. They love getting naked and showing each other their bums. It's apparently the most hilarious game ever invented.

3 year olds are very small children. It can be easy to get the wrong end of the stick when they are telling you about their day.

This could be really, really serious or it could be nothing. Or anything in between.

But there is a concern, so the thing to do is ask experts. Most people are totally out of their depth when it comes to this kind of stuff. Thankfully.

Maybe police and ss involvement will help your dp understand the seriousness of this situation OP. Is he not in the slightest bit concerned as to why his son would do this? If an adult inserted things into a child it would be called rape. It sounds like his ds needs protecting too from whatever he's being exposed to. Systematic abuse of children only happens because adults ignore it. His attitude would be a deal breaker for me.